<p>My youngest just started at Berkeley and I run a small software company. I can live anywhere as long as I can get to an airport relatively quickly. My wife and I have decided to get two condo’s/apartments - one in Portland, ME and one in Portland, OR - we love both cities, we like the Northwest and we like New England. And if anyone asks where we live - we can just say Portland. If they ask OR? we say yes. If they ask ME? we say yes.</p>
<p>SWEET!!</p>
<p>10 characters</p>
<p>Need a place like Madison, but without winter. Will be actively checking the voting patterns next fall… tsdad had a great post (#97). Too bad California has earthquakes. Does anyone else value libraries? Too many spots sound so unintellectual. Anyone wanting to give info on Maryland, outside DC area or the cities of North Carolina please do so (was pleasantly surprised by a nonsmoking hotel in Winston-Salem last week- not just a nonsmoking room!). Need liberal, academic style culture (not the artist type)… Pacific Northwest has those cold, rainy winters- not sure the joints can handle it. Already had melanoma, H needs warmth. Want much more cosmopolitan area, liberal, garden… Why, oh why, can’t one area have it all?</p>
<p>earthquakes are not that common…and I’d rather be in an earthquake than a tornado any day!</p>
<p>California is in an earthquake lull period. I don’t think I’d want to be in Thailand’s situation…they’ve experienced magnitude 7.0 and above earthquakes quite regularly since 2004.</p>
<p>There are earthquakes even in the midwest periodically. And I love So Cal…to me it’s just worth it!!</p>
<p>wis75, I think of Austin as similar to Madison without the winters. Both cities are state capitols, both have large flagship universities. Austin is a lot larger and has a big music scene as well, but the university feels similar to me. H went to UW-Madison and I went to UT-Austin, so we have had the Austin versus Madison discussion in our house. Neither of us want the winters of Madison. We have also considered Charlottesville as a good college town within a smaller city. The weather has four seasons, but isn’t particularly harsh. UVA also has a good medical center. However, housing within walking distance of UVA and downtown is very expensive.</p>
<p>wis I have relatives in a suburb of Winston-Salem, and I have other relatives who are in a suburb of Raleigh. Both areas are very nice. Housing has not seemed to skyrocket in the area near Winston-Salem (my reference point is the NE), but the growth going on around the suburb of Raleigh is amazing. You would not know that there is any recession/slowdown in that area.</p>
<p>To say Austin has 4 seasons is really stretching it. I love Austin, but the traffic problem is horrible. The city just doesn’t have the infrastructure to support all the cars. As much as we loved Austin while we were in TX (H lived there 6 years before we med while he went to grad school), it is humid and the climate is not very varied.</p>
<p>I think Nashville and its more rural surroundings would be a good choice. Oh wait- I live there NOW!</p>
<p>We have retirement property in western Colorado. We are near enough to resorts to access great skiing, but not right in the expense and crowds of them. We think we have found a great community with the necessary things, and we are close to I 70 to get to Denver or for road travel. The altitude of our community is lower than Vail/Aspen so the winter weather is milder.</p>
<p>Do you know about this, perhaps minor growth market? Retirement communities tied to universities. I couldn’t find a link to the Tucson area retirement community for academics which I believe is not tied to U of A. But found this and a few others in a quick search. Nothing warm, though there might be others. </p>
<p>I agree, if you’ve lived surrounded by a wealth of interesting people and cultural activities, going someplace where golf is the main focus would be depressing, sunshine or not. Having grown up in towns with that cultural focus, I far prefer Madison, despite the winter. On the other hand, the influx of new blood in places like AZ has made the communities more interesting than years ago. I think.
[University-linked</a> retirement communities - Campus Continuum](<a href=“http://www.campuscontinuum.com/index.htm]University-linked”>http://www.campuscontinuum.com/index.htm)</p>
<p>MOWC, I meant that Charlottesville has four seasons, not Austin. I agree that Austin weather is very boring. I haven’t been back since I graduated in the mid-1980s so wasn’t aware of the traffic issue. I didn’t use a car when I lived there since the University shuttle bus worked great.</p>
<p>GreatLakesMom: The link isn’t working.</p>
<p>Sorry, works for me from the above link. I tried inserting the actual address and the same link came up when posted. </p>
<p>Perhaps problematic because is a commercial site? Google academic retirement communities, as there are other organizations developing on this theme.</p>
<p>My criteria are as follows. I want to be able to golf at least 10 months per year. Within a hour drive of a metro area. Mountains not the beach. Mild winters and summers typically below 90(wife hates the heat). Reasonable low property/income taxes.</p>
<p>i am a simple person so that is about it. Any suggestions would be appreciated though we are visiting a possible spot soon. Retirement is about 90 days away!</p>
<p>Mountains and golfing 10 months a year may not work.</p>
<p>I disagree. The mountains in GA/SC/NC/Tenn have a moderate climate.</p>
<p>yep fundingfather, that is the area we are going to later in the month. Have an appointment with a realtor too!!!</p>
<p>Having just returned from a trip to the Fort Myers (spring training)/Naples area, I know that SW Florida is NOT a place where I’d retire. While the weather and the beaches were great, I was struck by the fact that most of the towns seemed like one gigantic strip mall that went on for miles and miles. While Naples had a nice historic area, most of it was new construction. Maybe it’s because I’m from New England and I like small towns and old buildings–but SW Florida wasn’t my cup of tea. Fun to visit–but I’d never live there. As for retirement–we don’t plan on moving–just leaving for a month or so in winter and also in the summer.</p>
<p>originaloog,</p>
<p>Have you compared the 4 states with respect to taxes and other financial aspects?</p>
<p>I was born in Wisconsin…lived there for 7-8 years- long enough to know I won’t live there (for obvious reasons)…and grew up in Ft. Lauderdale…definitely won’t live there (too many bugs, unbearable heat and humidity and it’s FLAT). I know I’m like a cheerleader for S. Cal., but I’ve lived here since 1979, and can’t imagine living anywhere else! The one drawback is the cost of housing (and sometimes rush hour traffic)…but everything else is wonderful: no humidity, no extremes in weather, sun more than most everywhere else, friendly people, mountains, beaches, golf all year round…</p>
<p>You really should check it out before you decide!</p>